Optic Neuritis | Health Encyclopedia: Optic Neuritis

Optic Neuritis: From 3 Different Sources

Inflammation of the optic nerve, often causing sudden loss of part of the visual field. Attacks are sometimes accompanied by pain on moving the eyes. Vision usually improves within 6 weeks, but some optic nerve fibres will be damaged. Recurrent attacks usually lead to permanent loss of visual acuity.

Most cases are thought to be due to demyelination of the optic nerve fibres in multiple sclerosis. The condition may also result from inflammation or infection of tissues around the optic nerve. Corticosteroid drugs may help to restore vision, but seem to have little effect on longterm outcome. (See also optic atrophy.)

Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association

In?ammation of the optic nerve (see EYE) which may result in sudden loss of part of a person’s vision. It is usually accompanied by pain and tenderness on touch. The cause is uncertain, although in some cases it may be a prcursor of MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS): CORTICOSTEROIDS may help by improving the loss of visual acuity, but seems not to check the long-term in?ammatory activity.

Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary

see retrobulbar neuritis.

Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Neuritis

Nerve inflammation, usually with an abnormal amount of pain, and often part of a degenerative process.... neuritis

Optic Atrophy

A deterioration in the ?bres of the optic nerve (see EYE) resulting in partial or complete loss of vision. It may be caused by damage to the nerve from in?ammation or injury, or the atrophy may be secondary to disease in the eye.... optic atrophy

Optic Disc

Otherwise known as the blind spot of the EYE, the disc is the beginning of the optic nerve – the point where nerve ?bres from the retina’s rods and cones (the light- and colour-sensitive cells) leave the eyeball.... optic disc

Retrobulbar Neuritis

In?ammation of the optic nerve behind (rather than within) the EYE. It usually occurs in young adults and presents with a rapid deterioration in vision over a few hours. Colour vision is also impaired. Usually vision recovers over a few weeks, but colour vision may be permanently lost. It can be associated with certain viral illnesses and with MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS). (See also EYE, DISORDERS OF.)... retrobulbar neuritis

Optic

Concerned with the EYE or vision.... optic

Optic Chiasma

This is formed by a crossing-over of the two optic nerves (see EYE) which run from the back of the eyeballs to meet in the mid line beneath the brain. Nerve ?bres from the nasal part of the retina cross to link up with ?bres from the outer part of the retina of the opposite eye. The linked nerves form two separate optic tracts which travel back to the occipital lobes of the brain.... optic chiasma

Peripheral Neuritis

In?ammation of the nerves (see NERVE) in the outlying parts of the body. (See NEURITIS.)... peripheral neuritis

Leber’s Optic Atrophy

a rare hereditary disorder, usually affecting young males, that is characterized by loss of central vision due to neuroretinal degeneration. Visual loss in one eye is rapid and usually followed by loss in the second eye. [T. Leber]... leber’s optic atrophy

Optic Chiasm

(optic commissure) the X-shaped structure formed by the two optic nerves, which pass backwards from the eyeballs to meet in the midline beneath the brain, near the pituitary gland (see illustration). Nerve fibres from the nasal side of the retina of each eye cross over to join fibres from the lateral side of the retina of the opposite eye. The optic tracts resulting from the junction pass backwards to the occipital lobes.... optic chiasm